Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT APPLICANT: ABRAHAMS, Tony INVENTION TITLE: A BARRIER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: - A Barrier Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a barrier for preventing the migration of insects, and more particularly to a barrier for preventing the migration of insects from a floor to a bed. Associated Applications 10 We incorporate herein by reference Australian Provisional Patent Application Nos 2009900121 and 2009900123. Background to the Invention Although once thought to have been eradicated, bed bug populations have risen in 15 recent times. Bed bugs are wingless small insects, around four to five millimetres in length, and feed mainly during the night on sleeping humans. Those bitten by bed bugs usually have a skin reaction which is inflamed and itchy. The bites can appear as raised lumps or welts around one to two centimetres in 20 diameter. Persistent biting can lead to sleepless nights and a great deal of discomfort. Anaphylaxis can occur in some people who suffer from severe allergic reactions. Infestations of bed bugs can be treated by chemical spraying, in more recent times 25 pest infestation has been treated using gel-based baits in preference to harmful chemicals. While baits are effective in controlling other insects, such as cockroaches, they have very limited effect on bed bugs because bed bugs are not attracted to the bait. 30 Good housekeeping habits such as vacuuming regularly can be used to limited effect to control bed bug infestation, but because of the flat shape of the bugs, they are able to hide in narrow cracks and crevices which makes detection of them difficult. Bed bugs seldom travel on humans, but prefer to be nestled away in clothing and 35 bed sheets. As the bugs often go for five to ten days without feeding, it is not uncommon to transfer an infestation from a hotel room to another hotel room or to a -2person's home in their suitcase. Therefore bed bugs can find their way to a bed from any luggage or clothing left on the floor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier which reduces the 5 migration of insects such as the bed bug. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect, the present invention provides a barrier for inhibiting migration of crawling insects to a bed via a bed leg, the barrier being co-operable 10 with a bed leg such that an insect must cross the barrier to reach the bed and wherein the barrier includes a trapping portion having a coating of a tacky substance to impede insects upon contact. The present invention can reduce the migration of insects, such as bed bugs, from 15 any clothing or luggage left on the floor by trapping the insects before they can reach the bed sheets. The barrier can also reduce the infestation of bed bugs as once the bugs are impeded by the coating they are unable to mate and reproduce. As time passes, the trapped bugs die of starvation. 20 The barrier can include a support member for engaging a portion of the bed leg and the trapping portion can extend from the support member. Preferably, the support member is fully enclosed. The trapping portion can have a generally U-shaped profile. The tacky substance in the trapping portion can be a non-drying adhesive which can stay tacky for more than a year. The barrier can be formed from plastic. 25 In one embodiment, the support member can include an upstanding perimeter wall for defining a seat for a bed leg and the trapping portion comprises at least part of the perimeter wall, an outwardly extending flange and a termination lip. 30 In an alternative embodiment, the support member can include an aperture for enabling a fastener to pass therethrough for securing the bed leg to the bed and wherein the trapping portion comprises at least part of the support member, a downwardly depending skirt and a termination lip. 35 -3- Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrier according to one embodiment of the 5 present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the barrier in Figure 1 in use with a bed leg. Figure 3 is a top view of the barrier in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side view of the barrier in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a barrier according to another embodiment of the 10 present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the barrier in Figure 5 in use with a bed leg. Figure 7 is a top view of the barrier in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a side view of the barrier in Figure 5. 15 Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention A first embodiment of the present invention, a barrier 10 for inhibiting migration of crawling insects to a bed via a bed leg 11, is shown in Figures 1 to 4. The barrier 10 is co-operable with a bed leg 11 such that an insect must cross the barrier 10 to reach the bed. The barrier 10 includes a trapping portion, denoted generally by 13, 20 having a coating of a tacky substance 14 for impeding insects upon contact. The barrier 10 includes a support member 12 which engages and supports the bed leg 11. The support member includes an upstanding perimeter 15 to define seat 9 for the bed leg 11 to rest. The trapping portion 13 includes a portion 16 of the upstanding 25 perimeter 14, an outwardly extending flange 17 and a termination lip 18 to define a U-shape shown in Figure 4. The inside of the U-shaped trapping porting 13 includes a tacky substance 14 to trap insects. For example, bed bugs brought into the house on clothing or luggage. If the 30 clothing or luggage is left on the floor, the bugs will naturally migrate towards the bed. When the barrier 10 is in place, the bugs must crawl up the outside of the upstanding perimeter wall 15 and will reach the tacky substance 14 which is applied to the outside of the perimeter wall 15. The tacky substance 14 slows the crawl of the bug before trapping it. Once the bug is stuck to the tacky substance it will die from 35 starvation. -4- The barrier 10 is formed from plastic and the circular support member 12 is approximately 60 millimetres in diameter, with the upstanding perimeter 15 being approximately 30 millimetres in height. In this embodiment, the trapping portion 13 is formed by the flange 17 extends 10 millimetres outwardly from the upstanding 5 perimeter 15 at an angle of 900. The trapping portion 13 is completed by the termination lip 18 which depends from the flange 17 also at a 90* angle and is approximately 10 millimetres in height. It will also be appreciated that rather than having a square U-shaped trapping portion, the trapping portion 13 could have a more rounded U-shape. 10 A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 shows a barrier 20 for fitting to the top of a bed leg 21, such that the barrier 20 inhibits migration of crawling insects between the bed leg 20 and the rest of the bed frame. 15 The barrier 20 is co-operable with a bed leg 21 by inserting a fastener 29 of the bed leg 21 through the aperture 30 such that an insect must cross the barrier 20 to reach the bed. The barrier 20 includes a trapping portion, denoted generally by 23, having a coating of a tacky substance 34 to impede insects upon contact. 20 In this embodiment, the barrier 20 includes a support member 22 which engages and rests on a portion of the bed leg 21. The trapping portion 13 includes a portion of the support member 22, a downwardly depending skirt 27 and a termination lip 28 to define a U-shape shown in Figure 8. 25 The barrier 20 is formed from plastic and the circular support member 22 is approximately 80 millimetres in diameter, with the depending skirt 27 being approximately 20 millimetres in height. In this embodiment, the trapping portion 13 is formed by the skirt 27 depending from the support member 22 an angle of 90*. The 30 trapping portion 13 is completed by the termination lip 28 extending from the skirt 27 also at a 90* angle for approximately 10 millimeters back towards the centre of the support member. It will also be appreciated that rather than having a square U shaped trapping portion, the trapping portion 13 could have a more rounded U shape. 35 Those of skill in the art will appreciate that such modifications or changes to the particular embodiments exemplified can be made without departed from the scope of -5the invention. For example, the support member 12 or 22 may take a different form, such as a square with a trapping portion attached. All such modifications and changes are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. -6-